Christmas Postcards
The Glow of Rockefeller Center
The lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree marks the beginning of the holiday season in New York City. For about six weeks, the 80-foot-tall spruce warms the New York nights with 45,000 LED lights and a star made up of more than 25,000 Swarovski crystals. The string of lights that adorns the emblematic tree is close to five miles long and remains lit from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. daily.
Parade of the Traveling Child
In the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca, a religious and cultural procession takes place every December 24th to honor El Niño Viajero, a polychrome image sculpted by anonymous artisans in 1830. The procession begins at Corazón de Jesús church, winds its way through the historic downtown section of this Andean city, and ends at Carmen de la Asunción church. Approximately 70,000 people –both tourists and locals– participate in the parade, which traditionally features costumes alluding to the nativity scene or representing other aspects of Ecuadorian culture.
The Lights of Medellín
In December, the Antioquian capital rolls out its alumbrados (Christmas lights), which this year will include some 27 million LEDs in nearly 15 miles of decorations. The display will include 32,000 figures and lighting groups distributed across parks in the city’s 17 districts and five townships, although the principal alumbrados are concentrated in Parque Norte and Parques del Río. The tradition of alumbrados in Medellín dates back to 1967.
Pleasuring the Palate
An incredible variety of dishes, beverages, and recipes are served during the Christmas holidays, from oven-baked ham and stuffed turkey to potato salads, apple pie, different kinds of tamales, sangria, spicy hibiscus flower iced tea, and wine… Watch what you eat!
White Christmas
In December, Old Quebec dresses not only in snow, but with lights and decorations that turn this Canadian city into a postcard “Christmas town.” The Old City’s most charming activity is the German Christmas market, which takes place every year in the weeks leading up to Christmas and recreates the atmosphere of Europe’s huge holiday markets. Enjoy the decorations, the shows, the choirs, and the delicious food.
Garlands of Sin
In Mexico, traditional Christmas celebrations include a star-shaped piñata adorned with colorful paper garlands. The height of the celebration comes when blindfolded revelers line up to strike the piñata in an allegory of the triumph of Good over Evil; the star’s seven points represent the seven capital sins, the garlands represent the temptations, and the blindfold recalls our faith in human kindness.
